How to Hand Wash a Blanket
Blankets are a cosy essential for every home, especially during the colder months. In every home, our blankets are essential for getting us through the colder months.
Wool Blankets
Wool blankets require special care when it comes to cleaning, which other blankets do not always. Wool is a really delicate fabric, and if not washed correctly, it can easily become damaged or lose its shape. In this blog post, we will go over the steps you need to follow to wash your wool blanket, keeping it clean and looking like brand new.
The first step is to read the care label on your wool blanket. This will give you important information on how to clean your blanket. If the care label says that the blanket should be dry cleaned only, then this doesn't necessarily mean that you have to take it to the dry cleaner, but you should definitely hand wash the blanket. If the care label says that the blanket can be machine washed, then follow the following steps, or wash it in the machine on a wool or hand wash setting, using specialist wool laundry detergent.
Before washing your blanket, you need to make sure that it is not stained. If it is, then you should spot clean it first. To spot clean your wool blanket, dampen a clean cloth with water and a small amount of wool detergent. Then, gently rub the stain in a circular motion until it is removed. Once the stain has been removed, you can wash your wool blanket.
Pre Treat Stains
If there are any visible stains on the blanket, pre-treat them with a stain remover or a mixture of mild detergent and water. Gently blot the stained area without rubbing to avoid spreading the stain, then wash the blanket.
Washing Your Blanket
Fill a bathtub or a sink with cool water and add a small amount of wool detergent. Our Cashmere and Eco Wash for Wool detergent is specifically designed for washing wool, as it is gentler than regular laundry detergents but is also scented with natural moth repellent. Make sure that your detergent is fully dissolved in the water before adding your wool blanket.
Place your wool blanket in the bathtub or sink and gently agitate it with your hands. Make sure you do not rub or twist the fabric as this can cause it to stretch or lose its shape. Allow the blanket to soak for 30 minutes.
After soaking, drain the water from the tub or sink and refill it with clean, cool water. Rinse the wool blanket thoroughly to remove any detergent residue. Make sure that you do not wring or twist the fabric as this can damage it.
Drying
Once you have rinsed the blanket, gently press it with a dry towel to remove any excess water, or roll the blanket in a towel to remove excess water.
Finally, lay the wool blanket flat on a clean surface to dry. Do not hang the blanket to dry as this can cause it to stretch. Make sure that the blanket is not in direct sunlight or near a heat source as this can cause it to shrink or become damaged.
Now you will have a clean woollen blanket, smelling amazing, to use again and again. While this does take a bit more effort than throwing it in the machine, it's little changes like these that will keep your blanket usable for more years to come.
More Blanket Care
Other frequently used materials include cotton, fleece, or polyester. As these fabrics are less delicate than wool, they can be washed in the machine - however, we still recommend washing them on a delicate machine setting.
For drying your blanket, you can either use a low heat dying cycle - and pop a tennis ball in to help the blanket fluff up! Or leave it outside to air dry (this way it will smell even fresher).
Refresh Your Blanket
For all your blankets, whether they are wool or made from other fabrics, you can spray them with our Clothing Spritz, like a dry clean spray for fabrics, it refreshes and removes impurities so you can reduce how much you are washing your blanket.
To help your blankets look smart, then give them a comb over with our cashmere comb - this helps remove any bobbles so your blanket looks newer for longer!
For more clothing care tips explore more of our blogs, such as our blog on how to hand wash merino wool, or how to hand wash a wool jumper. To keep your blanket protected from any pesky moth holes then explore moth repellent collection.
For our whole range of detergents, mists, tools and accessories that extend the life and improve the look, feel and smell, of your wardrobe favourites, explore our whole range.
